EMU's College of Business honors 20 southeast Michigan "superstar" companies

YPSILANTI - The rookie lineup of promising players destined for the "World Series" of business includes 20 small companies in southeastern Michigan. With the prospect of promising growth, the companies were recently given all-star treatment at the Eagle Crest Conference Center in Ypsilanti.

Eastern Michigan University and the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) honored the 20 outstanding small southeast Michigan businesses that were among the "Michigan 50 to Watch," a group of 50 outstanding small Michigan companies that were honored earlier this year in Lansing.

"This is a great group of companies. Part of our mission for the College of Business is to promote the economic development of Southeastern Michigan. As a result, it is imperative that we actively support small businesses," said David Mielke, dean of the EMU College of Business.

The companies were selected by the Edward Lowe Foundation, an organization that supports entrepreneurship in companies, that have passed the initial startup stage and seem destined for rapid growth. Each company received a framed plaque that included a letter from Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

"These companies are the superstars we seek to assist. They are all players for the future economic development of the state. We are proud to be part of recognizing their success," said Richard King, regional director of the SBTDC headquarters at EMU. "Typically, such companies have annual revenues between $1 million - $50 million and provide the bulk of new sustainable jobs."

"These awards highlight the very positive aspects of the Michigan economy which are too frequently overlooked. They also focus on success stories of companies that we have helped and are committed to helping through our eight Small Business and Technology Development Centers in the Detroit metropolitan area," said Mielke.

The EMU center is an SBTDC region with offices in Wayne, Oakland and Monroe counties that service more than 2,000 businesses annually.

The SBTDC has 12 regional headquarters statewide that provide low and no-cost training, business plan assistance and other services for entrepreneurs and small businesses in all 83 counties of Michigan.

For additional information, contact King at 734.487.0490.

Eastern Michigan University is a public, comprehensive university that offers programs in the arts, sciences and professions. EMU prepares students with the intellectual skills and practical experiences to succeed in their careers and lives, and to be better citizens.

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Eastern Michigan University is a public, comprehensive
university that offers programs in the arts, sciences and professions.
EMU prepares students with the intellectual skills and practical experiences
to succeed in their career and lives, and to be better citizens.